Bizman’s body found wrapped in plastic bag: ‘Friend’ arrested

CHENNAI: A day after a city businessman’s body was found wrapped in a plastic bag near Virugambakkam canal, police arrested his ‘friend’ for murdering him after an argument in an inebriated state.

A senior police officer said that the accused, J Ganesan (54) got acquainted with the deceased, R Baskaran (68) a couple of years ago as they shared common interests in making films. “Both of them got drunk and during a discussion, Baskaran had insulted Ganesan. In a fit of rage, Ganesan assaulted the elderly man, which resulted in his death. The accused panicked and dumped the body,” said the police officer.

Police sources said that the accused was also running prostitution in an apartment complex in Virugambakkam.

The deceased, R Baskaran, a resident of Ramakrishnapuram in Adambakkam was reported missing since Friday night and his body was found dumped near Virugambakkam Canal in Chinmaya Nagar. Around 7 am on Saturday, a conservancy worker with the civic body alerted the police about the suspicious looking package near a canal on Nerkundram Road.

The victim was identified as Baskaran, who ran a construction business also dabbled in film production previously and had financed few films recently.

Baskaran left home on Friday evening, claiming to meet a business acquaintance. . He called his wife and informed that he was in Virugambakkam and would come and pick her up.

However, as hours passed, Baskaran did not turn up and his mobile phone was switched off after which his wife alerted their sons, Karthikeyan (40) and Koushik (36).

The family informed the local police that Baskaran was missing. After Baskaran’s body was found on Saturday, Virugambakkam police began investigations. His car was found near Ganesan’s apartment and after verifying his call records, police found that the victim had made calls to Ganesan before he went missing.

Since Ganesan went absconding, the needle of suspicion fell on him. A police team secured him from a hideout in Redhills on Sunday. He was produced before a magistrate and remanded in judicial custody.